No get up and go

cantdecide

I'll try to avoid giving you my life story but I'm Male, 26, tall, big build, a little crooked and hunched, with a definite propensity to be overweight. My diet isn't brilliant but it's not that bad really- no caffeine/ nicotine/ alcohol/ junk food.

I have always struggled with my weight and I have always lacked vitality in life- my physical jobs have always left me subdued until bedtime. I gave up hard physical work about a year ago and expected big improvement in my energy levels which never came. I became very quickly even more overweight by a few stone and started becoming worried about my general health.

I grabbed the bull by the horns last year and decided to take up running and I was largely very happy with my progress. Knee problems stopped me in my tracks on 2 seperate occasions for months at a time (including at the moment) but at times I succeeded in becoming as fit as I had been in my whole life despite not losing all my weight.

However, my general energy levels have never improved. My body rose to the challenge of running itself quite well but when returning to 'idle' after exercise, I still live my waking life in a sort of slightly drousy state of having no get up an go which I know has followed me my whole life. At work, I've been known to occasionally just have to hide and sit down out of exhaustion. A lot of the time I feel quite middle- aged, if you know what I mean.

Anyone else ever suffer from this. Any advice?

celestial

cantdecide wrote: »

I'll try to avoid giving you my life story but I'm Male, 26, tall, big build, a little crooked and hunched, with a definite propensity to be overweight. My diet isn't brilliant but it's not that bad really- no caffeine/ nicotine/ alcohol/ junk food.

I have always struggled with my weight and I have always lacked vitality in life- my physical jobs have always left me subdued until bedtime. I gave up hard physical work about a year ago and expected big improvement in my energy levels which never came. I became very quickly even more overweight by a few stone and started becoming worried about my general health.

I grabbed the bull by the horns last year and decided to take up running and I was largely very happy with my progress. Knee problems stopped me in my tracks on 2 seperate occasions for months at a time (including at the moment) but at times I succeeded in becoming as fit as I had been in my whole life despite not losing all my weight.

However, my general energy levels have never improved. My body rose to the challenge of running itself quite well but when returning to 'idle' after exercise, I still live my waking life in a sort of slightly drousy state of having no get up an go which I know has followed me my whole life. At work, I've been known to occasionally just have to hide and sit down out of exhaustion. A lot of the time I feel quite middle- aged, if you know what I mean.

Anyone else ever suffer from this. Any advice?

Hey dude,

Couple of things spring to mind:

1) Running, especially mid-long distance running, is actually a very high-impact activity that is just hard on the body. Think about it - you are pounding your legs on concrete (treadmill not much better) over and over, maybe multiple times a week. If you are overweight it's even more stress and strain - many people damage their knees and other body parts as a result. For someone like you, there are many other activities that could be far more suitable for your fitness goals - cycling, rowing and weight training are the ones I have in mind for you.

2) Is this constant lack of get up and go purely physical, or emotional/etc? Feel free not to divulge this info but it could be bigger than lack of physical energy if the answer is other than purely physical. It isn't normal to want to sit down and sleep during the working day, at least not on a constant basis.

3) You say your diet isn't great - maybe post up a typical day's diet so we can critique?

workaccount

cantdecide wrote: »

I'll try to avoid giving you my life story but I'm Male, 26, tall, big build, a little crooked and hunched, with a definite propensity to be overweight. My diet isn't brilliant but it's not that bad really- no caffeine/ nicotine/ alcohol/ junk food.

I have always struggled with my weight and I have always lacked vitality in life- my physical jobs have always left me subdued until bedtime. I gave up hard physical work about a year ago and expected big improvement in my energy levels which never came. I became very quickly even more overweight by a few stone and started becoming worried about my general health.

I grabbed the bull by the horns last year and decided to take up running and I was largely very happy with my progress. Knee problems stopped me in my tracks on 2 seperate occasions for months at a time (including at the moment) but at times I succeeded in becoming as fit as I had been in my whole life despite not losing all my weight.

However, my general energy levels have never improved. My body rose to the challenge of running itself quite well but when returning to 'idle' after exercise, I still live my waking life in a sort of slightly drousy state of having no get up an go which I know has followed me my whole life. At work, I've been known to occasionally just have to hide and sit down out of exhaustion. A lot of the time I feel quite middle- aged, if you know what I mean.

Anyone else ever suffer from this. Any advice?

Maybe your depressed? I suffer from depression, am seeing a therapist and am coming down off medication in the last 2-3weeks. In the last week my medication has been halved and I feel like you all the time- feck all energy and enthusiasm for anything- constantly have to stuggle really hard to get motivated at work- it's terrible.

cantdecide

Thanks for the frankness but emotionally I'm one of the lucky ones who is in good shape and quite happy in general. Wasn't always the case but this isn't an issue to me now.

It's not lack of enthusiasm either. There's plenty I'd like to achieve but I know that some people are wired and bouncing off the wall 24/7 but I'm simply on the far end of the scale. Periodically I can go from months of reasonably good energy and pep (enough to get by and avoid being known as a lazy b*stard at work) to months of being a lazy lump. On the few occasions when I have an excess of energy, I burn it mad- no stopping me but literally hours later, I'm drooped in front of the telly again.

Diet; Generally a good breakfast, cereal, toast, the usual, sambos for lunch, spuds/ veg/ meat for evening meal or rice, anything really, I'm not a fussy eater. Bit of a cookie monster though. No real crisp/ chips/ pizza habits. No serious snacking out of hours. Is this specific enough?

EDIT: I should specify that I have a real lack of concentration as a result- I don't know if it's important but this is the other main symptom. If I sit down to read a book, I'll soon start to drift off.

My mother is the same, is the other imortant thing. She's in her mid 50's and at any time of day or night, if she sits down, she drifts off in under a minute. (truth be told, I'm a little afraid of ending up this way because for her, it's crippling).

celestial

cantdecide wrote: »

Thanks for the frankness but emotionally I'm one of the lucky ones who is in good shape and quite happy in general. Wasn't always the case but this isn't an issue to me now.

It's not lack of enthusiasm either. There's plenty I'd like to achieve but I know that some people are wired and bouncing off the wall 24/7 but I'm simply on the far end of the scale. Periodically I can go from months of reasonably good energy and pep (enough to get by and avoid being known as a lazy b*stard at work) to months of being a lazy lump. On the few occasions when I have an excess of energy, I burn it mad- no stopping me but literally hours later, I'm drooped in front of the telly again.

Diet; Generally a good breakfast, cereal, toast, the usual, sambos for lunch, spuds/ veg/ meat for evening meal or rice, anything really, I'm not a fussy eater. Bit of a cookie monster though. No real crisp/ chips/ pizza habits. No serious snacking out of hours. Is this specific enough?

EDIT: I should specify that I have a real lack of concentration as a result- I don't know if it's important but this is the other main symptom. If I sit down to read a book, I'll soon start to drift off.

My mother is the same, is the other imortant thing. She's in her mid 50's and at any time of day or night, if she sits down, she drifts off in under a minute. (truth be told, I'm a little afraid of ending up this way because for her, it's crippling).

Hmm, have you ever consulted a doctor to discuss this? To be honest your diet is practically identical to everyone in Ireland so don't see any problems there really...although lots of cookie can cause blood sugar highs and lows:)

Personally I don't think it is normal, at your age, to be drifting off like Grampa from the Simpsons when reading a book, and could be a sign of some condition or other. If you have checked with your doc and he gave you a clean bill of health then I would say you are just one of those people whose energy levels can fluctuate wildly, which sounds normal. I know that some people are alway 'on', like the energy bunnies you described above, and some people are more or less at the same level (me included). You could be just different, but it could be something genetic if your mother is the same, which is why I suggest checking with your doc.

rubadub

celestial wrote: »

cycling, rowing and weight training are the ones I have in mind for you.

+1. I took up cycling and lost weight, then plateaued, problem was it was a fixed commute to work, so my 2 hour cycle eventually became 1 hour after losing weight and getting fitter. I never would have ran, I still wouldn't, just don't enjoy it and the weight would have been damaging when I was at my heaviest. Cycling is more functional, and these days I am faster cycling than driving, so I end up with more free time.
Weights would be perfect for you, I can't recommend them enough. Low impact and they burn calories like nothing else. If you are overweight you probably have more muscle than the average lad since you are essentially weightlifting all day. It takes calories to build new muscle (like a pregnant woman must eat more). Then the new muscle needs more calories to be maintained. Your strength will increase dramatically in the first few months and you will not be as tired. You will be able to haul yourself around so much easier. Then the fat loss just snowballs once you have some get up and go.

celestial wrote: »

To be honest your diet is practically identical to everyone in Ireland so don't see any problems there really.

Except the average diet intake in Ireland is around 3500-3800kcal! Portion size is most peoples problem. Have you calculated your calorie intake? You need a digital scales and a calculator and look at the food packaging. After a week or so weighing your regular foods you will get to know how many calories you are eating. It will also surprise you to find out which foods are high/low in calories. Stuff you presume is low in calories can be high, and vice versa.

Weight training is really helpful, you can start right now doing bodyweight exercises, www.simplefit.org

ali.c

cantdecide wrote: »

Diet; Generally a good breakfast, cereal, toast, the usual, sambos for lunch, spuds/ veg/ meat for evening meal or rice, anything really, I'm not a fussy eater. Bit of a cookie monster though. No real crisp/ chips/ pizza habits. No serious snacking out of hours. Is this specific enough?

EDIT: I should specify that I have a real lack of concentration as a result- I don't know if it's important but this is the other main symptom. If I sit down to read a book, I'll soon start to drift off.

My mother is the same, is the other imortant thing. She's in her mid 50's and at any time of day or night, if she sits down, she drifts off in under a minute. (truth be told, I'm a little afraid of ending up this way because for her, it's crippling).

Right so assuming you have no underlying medical condition and yup if you energy levels are acting out alot its worth getting it checked out tbh!

How much water do you drink? Try getting in about 3 litres a day seriously when i am groggy and tired its usually as i have not drank enough water.

Your diet isnt horrendous but it could be better. You could try keeping a food journal and logging how you feel after eating certain things.

Also if your groggy and tired alot how is your sleep patterns? Do you flake out in front of the telly and head to bed late or is there any environmental causes such as an overly warm stuffy room etc?

Finally i find that taking ginseng helps me wake up with a bit of zest.

cantdecide

celestial wrote: »

Hmm, have you ever consulted a doctor to discuss this?...although lots of cookie can cause blood sugar highs and lows...Personally I don't think it is normal, at your age, to be drifting off like Grampa Simpson..... some people are alway 'on'

I think I will visit a doctor. It's hard to justify it sometimes becasue I don't feel ill but my quality of life is definitely affected. I really should curb the sugar habits, too. Grampa Simpson is what it feels like sometimes!!

rubadub wrote: »

I took up cycling and lost weight.... I never would have ran, just don't enjoy it....Weights would be perfect for you, I...Your strength will increase and you will not be as tired.....the average diet intake in Ireland is around 3500-3800kcal! Portion size is most peoples problem. Have you calculated your calorie intake?

I run on grass which helps and I reallly do enjoy it. I might end up givin the GP a call pn my knee regardless. My brothr has been iving me the same advice- I'll star looking into this because what you're saying makes a lot of sense. I would dread to calculate my intake, I know it's way too much but I know that in the past, my weight loss plateau'd on dieting alone, very quickly so if I could do some mixed farming, it could be very effective for me.

ali.c wrote: »

its worth getting it checked out....i am groggy and tired its usually as i have not drank enough water....You could try keeping a food journal and logging how you feel after eating certain things....how is your sleep patterns? Do you flake out in front of the telly and head to bed late or is there any environmental causes such as an overly warm stuffy room etc....Finally i find that taking ginseng helps me wake up with a bit of zest.

I do neglect my water intake. I keep meaning to be more disciplined about this but I have a tiny bladder so it involves reprogramming a very hidden chip in my brain that says 'I'm not visiting the bathroom every 5 minutes'! I have kept informal note of the effect of different foods and tehir effects and can see no rhyme nor reason. Sleep patterns are pretty good, always get the full compliment at pretty regular times. I never sleep in front of TV- I just don't have enough pluck to go and do something productive. I found that ginseng did nothing for me at all, funnily enough. I think there is a combination of all of the above and probably more.

workaccount

cantdecide wrote: »

I think I will visit a doctor. It's hard to justify it sometimes becasue I don't feel ill but my quality of life is definitely affected. I really should curb the sugar habits, too. Grampa Simpson is what it feels like sometimes!!

Don't assume that somthing like depression is head down, not getting up in the morning etc. That's a stereotype.

Just for what it's worth!

xebec

cantdecide wrote: »

I think I will visit a doctor. It's hard to justify it sometimes becasue I don't feel ill but my quality of life is definitely affected. I really should curb the sugar habits, too. Grampa Simpson is what it feels like sometimes!!

Everything that you've said in this thread justifies a trip to a GP, if for nothing else at least just some reassurance. There can be many medical reasons for the symptoms you describe, not just depression as workaccount has mentioned. Discuss everything you've mentioned here with your GP and they will be in a better position to investigate and diagnose than we ever will.

Froot

Check your Thyroid with your GP. A few of the symptoms you described I experienced with an over active thyroid last year.

Just a thought.

Roper

I'll answer assuming you have no medical condition per se.

You sound exactly like my mate a year ago. Overweight most of his life, fairly sedentary, and finding it was starting to effect him mentally. Bad sleeping and eating habits.

If it's a case of not having any 'oomph', get up and go so to speak, would you think about trying a sport or activity that was regular and regulated? Something that got you out no matter what? My mate bit the bullet and came to train with me and he's a different man since. The weight fell of him initially and he's actually unhappy now when he sees a kilo or two increase. He'll still always be prone to weight gain but he knows now that he has the capacity to alter that for himself. What he said were the key differences between this and other times he'd tried to lose weight were the fact that he enjoyed it, but mostly the fact that it was part of his schedule. ie. At THIS time on THIS night I do this EVERYTIME, no matter how tired I feel.

Now I'm not suggesting you come train martial arts with me, but just that you find some form of exercise that you enjoy and you will do as part of your schedule, something you'll find it hard to say no to.

In any case, no matter what you decide to do, be it walking, running or whatever, I wish you the best of luck with it!

sheldonparkgym

Realise the effect of excess sugar on both your mood and energy levels.

If your blood sugar level are going up and down all throughout the day, this will put an incredible stress on your body. Many times, this is a result of people leaving too long between meals. Their blood sugar levels drop so they get a craving for something sweet, which will provide the body with an instant sugar supply. Hence the cravings for cookies and other simple carbs. The downside is that while it gives the body an instant "hit" of energy, you experience a big drain of energy shortly afterwards and your body soon wants more sugar. So you experience more sugar cravings. It's a viscious circle. When your body craves sugar, both your concentration levels and mood are affected.

Eating more often throughout the day (every 3 hours) is what I recommend. Protein-rich foods will also help you elimnate sugar cravings.

I also recommend you take fish-oils. You may be defficient in essential fats, which can greatly affect your mood and overall well-being.

Keep us posted on your progress.